Juventus vs. Lazio Coppa Italia Semifinal: A Clash of Struggling Giants

In a rematch of their recent encounter in Rome, Juventus and Lazio face off again, this time in Turin, in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals. Lazio emerged victorious in their last meeting, courtesy of a late goal by Adam Marusic, marking their first win under the leadership of new coach Igor Tudor, who took over from Maurizio Sarri after his resignation.

Juventus, on the other hand, are in urgent need of a turnaround following a disappointing run that has seen them secure just one victory in their last nine games. Shifting their focus to the Coppa Italia, both teams are poised for a tense battle in Turin.

Expected to make significant changes, Juventus manager Allegri is likely to shuffle his lineup, with Mattia Perin set to start in goal and Federico Gatti returning to the defense in place of Daniele Rugani. The attacking duo of Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic will be pivotal for the Bianconeri.

Lazio, under the guidance of Tudor, is also expected to tweak their squad, reintroducing captain Ciro Immobile into the starting XI after his absence in the previous match. The likes of Felipe Anderson and Mattia Zaccagni are set to feature prominently, with Luis Alberto anchoring the midfield.

As the two sides prepare to clash once again, the stage is set for a closely contested encounter, with both teams eyeing a positive result. Following a recent draw between the teams, a deadlock seems the most probable outcome in this first-leg showdown.

Predicted Lineups:
Juventus: Perin; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Chiesa, Vlahovic.
Lazio: Mandas; Gila, Romagnoli, Casale; Marusic, Guendouzi, Cataldi, Felipe Anderson; Luis Alberto, Zaccagni; Immobile.

Prediction: Juventus 0, Lazio 0.